'Ditch The Orange Panties' new coach Connors tells Maria Sharapova

Sharapova now the 2/1 favorite to win the Women's Singles at Flushing Meadows

Blushing Meadows, NY - The Russian four-time Grand Slam winner has appointed her fiercest on-court sartorial critic as training coach ahead of next month's tilt at the US Open.

Announcing the hiring of eight-time Grand Slam champ Jimmy Connors, 60, Maria Sharapova said she admired the work he'd done with Andy Roddick who went on to win the US Open Men's Singles in 2003.

The change of direction comes just daze after ditching her former coach Thomas Hogstedt following a disastrous second round Wimbledon exit when trounced in straight sets by Michelle Larcher de Brito.

It is not known what the former trainer thought of Ms Sharapova's orange underwear which, according to UK red top sources, provided 'so much pleasure' to millions of Brit TV viewers during her failed title tilt on grass in London SW19.

Connors, however, is known to be a no-nonsense all-white-strip kinda guy despite reports to the contrary.

Sharapova is now the clear 2/1 favorite to win the Flushing Meadows contest in August with Michelle Larcher de Brito at 6/1.

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